2017 Team Lupine Racing, USA
Jason Zorilla – Boulder, Colorado
Age: 41
Occupation: Industrial Maintenance
Year started AR: 1998 Member: 2013
Favorite Discipline: Navigating
Aka: JZ
BIO: Jason is the Lead Navigator and Captain of Team Lupine Racing, USA. Jason’s first AR experience was in 1998 at the Adventure Race Camp in New Jersey, where he grew up. Jason and his sister raced a season of shorter 6 hour events, and then he took a decade long hiatus from the racing scene to concentrate on his educational pursuits and traveling. After a move to the Midwest in 2011, Jason was hooked on adventure racing once again as he signed with several teams, eventually finding his place as the lead navigator on Team Lupine Racing, USA. He has learned from some of the nations best adventure racers and he has excelled in this sport. Jason loves to mountain bike and is “the mule” when needed, often seen carrying gear to assist his teammates. Jason, what is it about adventure racing that you enjoy the most? "AR pushes your limits and really makes you rely on getting through whatever is thrown at you, it’s the Challenge." Jason also is the team MacGyver/mechanic and is always inventing new things to help the team to be faster and more efficient. His energy is a great asset to the team, as we have to keep him occupied since the gears are always moving in that brain of his. Jason enjoys motivating through laughter, which helps keep the team smiling.
Paula Pearson – Boulder, Colorado
Age: 46
Occupation: Production Analysis for a 14 Million Dollar Company
Year Started AR: 2010
Favorite Discipline: Running, Pace Counting and Navigating
AKA: PWILD
BIO: Paula is Co-Captain of Team Lupine Racing, USA. Paula grew up in the heartland state of Indiana. Even though she wasn’t an “athlete” in school or in her younger years her passion for the outdoors and her admiration for athleticism ran deep. One day in 2005, she decided to run a marathon to honor her grandfather and she has been an exercise junkie ever since. Later, Paula began volunteering at local adventure races and thought, "these people are nuts, I would die if I did one of these races." Yet she shared a sense of camaraderie with these AR groups that intrigued her. Intrigue lead to action, as she began refining her navigational skills at local orienteering events and convinced her best friend to do a few short AR's with her as a 2P female team. Several podium placing’s down the road she was recruited by Team Topo Adventure Sports in 2011. Her first 18-hour race would be with this Ohio based COED team. Up until this point she hadn't raced over 6 hours, let alone ridden her mountain bike at night. The team placed 4th in this race and it was then that Paula knew she was hooked on adventure racing. She continued to race with Team Topo for a few years competing in many 30hr races and even her first expedition race. Paula, what is it about adventure racing you enjoy the most? "Racing like a fine oiled machine as my teammates and I move in synchrony through picturesque landscape most people just dream about, and most of all I love the team dynamic of AR, these incredible athletes are not just my teammates, they are my family”. Paula moved to Colorado in 2013 and is now Co-Captain/Glue for Team Lupine Racing USA. She is the pace counting master and keeps her teammates moving through TA's super fast. "Ta's are no picnic!" you will hear her say if its taking too long, as her watch goes off alerting the team to move. She is best known for repacking packs, filling water bottles, unwrapping food for her teammates so they move quickly through TA’s. Her teammates say she is the “pace pusher, the most positive, yet intense teammate, and she suffers well, so the longer the race the stronger she gets." Besides adventure racing she likes to read, explore, geocache, play with animals, and spend time with friends and family.
Age: 56
Occupation: Retired Police Detective turned full-time Outdoor Junkie
Year Started AR: 1999
Favorite Discipline: Mountain Biking and Navigating
AKA: Mr. Positive
BIO: Rick brings the seasoned AR experience to Team Lupine Racing, USA. He is an exceptional endurance athlete, who has competed in hundreds of events since high school. He paddles, runs (consistently upper 20th percentile finisher in marathons) and he bikes.
Race Highlights: 5 time Boston Marathon finisher, Primal Quest - Lake Tahoe 2003 (34th place, full course), Ironman Wisconsin finisher 2007, Gold Rush Mother Load 2013 finisher, competed in 5 of the Infiterra Sports (Michigan) 4-day races across Michigan. Rick is such an asset to the team with his wealth of racing experiences! His teammates love to hate him on multi-day races because he doesn't require much sleep. Just give him a Red Bull or coffee when he starts on the orienteering course and he’s off. Rick, what is it about adventure racing you enjoy the most? "The ability to push myself beyond my normal boundaries, to live and experience life to it's fullest and I can eat guilt free for at least as many days as the race is long."
Race Highlights: 5 time Boston Marathon finisher, Primal Quest - Lake Tahoe 2003 (34th place, full course), Ironman Wisconsin finisher 2007, Gold Rush Mother Load 2013 finisher, competed in 5 of the Infiterra Sports (Michigan) 4-day races across Michigan. Rick is such an asset to the team with his wealth of racing experiences! His teammates love to hate him on multi-day races because he doesn't require much sleep. Just give him a Red Bull or coffee when he starts on the orienteering course and he’s off. Rick, what is it about adventure racing you enjoy the most? "The ability to push myself beyond my normal boundaries, to live and experience life to it's fullest and I can eat guilt free for at least as many days as the race is long."
Age: 27
Occupation: Senior Ecommerce Manager at Hydro Flask
Year Started AR: 2011
Favorite Discipline: Mountain Biking
AKA: TBA
BIO: Robbie brings the shoes that weren’t made for standing to Team Lupine Racing, USA. Robbie’s obsession with adventure began in 2010 when he entered his first trail run. He was immediately hooked. The trail brought him a freedom and peace he had not felt since childhood when he would spend hours out in the woods adventuring with his friends. He quickly took to trail running and mountain biking as a means of spiritual connectedness, exercise and exploration. Thanks to a good friend, Robbie was introduced to the wonderful world of AR. Robbie, what is it about adventure racing you enjoy the most? “AR combines several aspects of life that I love: teamwork, mountain biking, and adventure.” “Obviously, there’s way more to this sport, but that’s what sparked my interest in the early days.” Robbie and his wife Lauren are very active in their local orienteering group, as well as Team Ninja Mountain Bike Racing!
Lauren Williams – Bend, Oregon
Age: 27
Occupation: Account Executive at Parker White
Year Started AR: 2012
Favorite Discipline: Mountain Bike
AKA: TBA
BIO: Lauren brings the enthusiasm for adventures to Team Lupine Racing, USA. Lauren is a perpetual daydreamer with a restlessness to see more, experience more and live in the moment. She believes true adventurers are just normal people who get out there and make it happen. Nothing makes her happier than sharing wild experiences with others, especially female athletes. The outdoors is her playground, and she recognizes the need to give back. Lauren is extremely passionate about groups like Leave No Trace, The Sierra Club, and the PCTA. She will be the first to admit that she searches every day for new ways to get involved and make a difference. Lauren has participated in several adventure races with her husband Robbie and teammates. She is clipped into her mountain bike as often as possible, and her husband states her trail running shoes are usually covered in burrs. Besides adventure racing, Lauren is an XC MTB racer, enjoys geocaching, orienteering, and any activity that allows her to be out where most people don't go. Lauren, what is it about adventure racing that you enjoy the most? “My heart wanders in the world of outdoor recreation for many reasons – but mainly because exploring and learning are good for the soul. I reset and recharge when I am surrounded by nature, challenging myself to achieve whatever I set my mind to."
BIO: Lauren brings the enthusiasm for adventures to Team Lupine Racing, USA. Lauren is a perpetual daydreamer with a restlessness to see more, experience more and live in the moment. She believes true adventurers are just normal people who get out there and make it happen. Nothing makes her happier than sharing wild experiences with others, especially female athletes. The outdoors is her playground, and she recognizes the need to give back. Lauren is extremely passionate about groups like Leave No Trace, The Sierra Club, and the PCTA. She will be the first to admit that she searches every day for new ways to get involved and make a difference. Lauren has participated in several adventure races with her husband Robbie and teammates. She is clipped into her mountain bike as often as possible, and her husband states her trail running shoes are usually covered in burrs. Besides adventure racing, Lauren is an XC MTB racer, enjoys geocaching, orienteering, and any activity that allows her to be out where most people don't go. Lauren, what is it about adventure racing that you enjoy the most? “My heart wanders in the world of outdoor recreation for many reasons – but mainly because exploring and learning are good for the soul. I reset and recharge when I am surrounded by nature, challenging myself to achieve whatever I set my mind to."
Nancy Gawrys - Indianapolis, Indian
Age: 52
Occupation: Business owner/Personal trainer
Occupation: Business owner/Personal trainer
Year Started AR: 2004
Favorite Discipline: Running and water sports
AKA: TBA
BIO: Nancy brings her exceptional running skills to Team Lupine Racing, USA. Nancy ventured into Adventure Racing in 2004 after many years of running road races
and competing in triathlons. Always an avid trail runner, AR spoke to her need
to be immersed in the woods. She has raced with Team Ragged Glory for the past
11 years competing in races from 6-30 hours. It is always a joy to see her run towing men twice her size in races. Nancy is a free spirit, likes to laugh, have fun, and her AR family means the world to her. Nancy, what is it about adventure racing you enjoy the most? “I love the team aspect of AR; the camaraderie that you do not get in triathlons or running races. The challenge
of getting a group of people with different skill sets, different temperaments,
and different personalities, across a finish line together is thrilling. And
the friendships that develop from those experiences are priceless and
everlasting.”
Mike Wissman, Cincinnati Ohio
Age: 40
Occupation: VP of Distribution
Year Started AR: 2004
Favorite Discipline: MT Biking and Paddling
Aka: TBA
Bio: Mike grew up in Ohio and lives near Cincy with his wife and two kids. They all love being outside and exploring. Mike also races TOPO Adventure Sports and is a great alternate to Team
Lupine Racing USA. Mike is the quiet adventure racer, goes with the flow, very calm. His first Adventure Race was in 2007, he's completed dozens of 4 to 30+ hour races and multiple expedition length races over the past seven years. Mike enjoys all Mountain biking and the LONGER the paddle the better! Reading the water comes natural to him even at night. Mike what is it about adventure racing you like the most? "The logistics, planning, and ultimately the execution as the race unfolds."
Eric Olsen, Chicago IL.
Occupation: Buisness Development Analyst for a mission critical communications company
Year Started AR: 2011
Favorite Discipline: Foot navigation and MT Biking
Aka: TBA
Bio: Eric has been addicted to adventure racing ever since he did his first race back in 2011. He brings a positive attitude and solid navigational experience to the team. Whether he's lead nav, pack mule, or towing a teammate, he helps out whenever and wherever he can. "Jack of all trades" To date, Eric has raced in 14 different states. He has aspirations to do a race in all 50 states and tries to race in a couple new states each year. When Eric is not racing, he always training for his next big event. He's no stranger to long training weekends. Aside from adventure racing, he enjoys ROGAINE style orienteering events and loves single track. Hes a member of CAMBR, Chicago Area Mountain Bikers and CAOC, Chicago Area Orienteering Club. He has participated in several multi-day expedition style adventure races and would like to focus more on longer length events, including some international races.
Eric what is it about adventure racing you like the most? "I enjoy the exploration of new places that not many people will get to encounter. It's all about majestic views, beautiful landscapes and connecting with nature. No other sports exposes you to so many awesome places. I feel I've seen and done some amazing things that most people will never get to experience."
Michele Ericsson, Wisconsin/Colorado
Occupation: Accountant, National Ski Patrol
Year Started AR: 2001
Favorite Discipline: MT Biking and Trekking
Aka: TBA
BIO: Wisconsin born
and raised. Started Adventure Racing. in
2001 with hundreds of local and regional races. Notable Expedition races of
:Primal Quest - Tahoe ((2003) Infiterra Sports - MIX, and Coast to Coast races 2005-2008,
Transitioned to Ultra marathoning over the last 3 years. Michele's strengths are on the Mountain Bike,
as well as strong on her feet. A
positive can do attitude. Michele likes to cross country ski, road bike, swim
and playing with dog Stubby.
Michele what is it
about adventure racing you enjoy the most? "I love the team dynamics. I enjoy all of the activities in an AR, but
it is much more fun sharing the adventure with others. I like the challenge of getting through the
event together and figuring out how to help each other throughout our highs and
lows. On an experienced team it's fun to
just click and know what's needed. On a
new team it's interesting to learn what works for the group. I also just like the opportunity to go to
places I would never ever ever ever think to otherwise go :-)."
Come join us in our adventures!
.jpeg){kind=link}
